On average, one medium onion weighs approximately 3-4 ounces when chopped. So if you chop up one medium onion, you would get around 3-4 ounces of chopped onion. The exact amount can vary a bit depending on the size and variety of the onion.
Factors That Affect Onion Weight When Chopped
There are a few factors that can cause the weight of a chopped onion to be more or less than the average 3-4 ounces:
Onion Size
– Small onions weigh less than medium or large onions. A small onion may only yield around 2 ounces chopped.
– Large onions can weigh up to 5-6 ounces or more and yield over 4 ounces chopped.
Onion Variety
– Certain onion varieties are larger and weigh more than others. Vidalia, Walla Walla, and other sweet onion varieties tend to be bigger than yellow, white or red onions.
– Shallots are much smaller than regular onions and only produce about 1-2 ounces chopped.
Moisture Content
– Fresher onions have higher moisture content than older, dried out onions.
– More moisture = more weight. Chopped onions can weigh a bit less after sitting out and losing some moisture.
How Onion is Chopped
– Finely diced onions take up less space and may weigh slightly less than roughly chopped onion pieces.
-Very precisely chopped onion pieces also may compact more and weigh more per cup than uneven chunks.
Weight of Onion When Chopped for Different Meal Sizes
Here is an estimate of how much chopped onion you would get from 1 medium onion based on the meal serving size:
| Meal Servings | Ounces of Onion Needed |
|---|---|
| 2 servings | ~2 ounces |
| 4 servings | ~3 ounces |
| 6 servings | ~4 ounces |
As you can see, for a smaller meal for 2 people you only need around 2 ounces of chopped onion from 1 medium onion. For a larger 6 serving meal, you would need the full 3-4 ounces that one onion provides.
Onion Weight to Volume Conversions
Here are some handy conversions for the weight of onions into volume measurements:
| Weight | Volume |
|---|---|
| 1 ounce chopped onion | Around 1/4 to 1/3 cup |
| 2 ounces chopped onion | Around 1/2 to 2/3 cup |
| 3 ounces chopped onion | Around 3/4 to 1 cup |
| 4 ounces chopped onion | Around 1 to 1 1/4 cups |
These conversions can be useful if a recipe calls for a certain volume of onions but you only have a weight measurement from the onion you chopped.
Conclusion
To summarize, one medium onion weighing approximately 3-4 ounces will yield about 3-4 ounces when chopped. This amount can vary based on onion size, variety, moisture content, and how it is chopped. Smaller onions may only produce 2 ounces chopped while larger ones can produce over 4 ounces. When cooking for 4-6 people, you will typically need the full 3-4 ounces that one medium onion provides. Refer to the weight to volume conversions provided to help adapt onion measurements in recipes.
